Species Gallery - All
SIZE: max. 1.75 in.
Yellow Margin Dorid
Cadlina luteomarginataDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: White body has a yellow margin and many low tubercles tipped with yellow.
DESCRIPTION:
Flat body with a small, rounded tuft of gills at the back of the body. (Similar sp. Hudson’s yellow margin dorid is found only shallow subtidal depths and has larger sensory organs in the front.)
SIZE: max. 10 ft. arm spread
Giant Pacific Octopus
Octopus dofleiniDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Size distinguishes giant Pacific octopus from small fist-sized red octopus.
DESCRIPTION:
Reddish brown coloration can vary with background. 8 suction cup-filled arms are 3-5 times the length of the body. Look for a pile of discarded shells to find the opening to a den.
SIZE: max. 3.5 in.
Leafy Hornmouth
Ceratastoma foliatumDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Three frilled, wing-like projections that protrude from the top and on each side of the shell.
DESCRIPTION:
Large “tooth” projects from the aperture, used to force open shells of prey.
SIZE: max. 5.5 in.
Lewis's Moonsnail
Euspira lewisiiDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Massive mantle almost wraps completely around the shell.
DESCRIPTION:
Large, round creamy-colored or pinkish shell. Soft body is translucent brown or gray. Only found in soft sediment. Lays eggs in a clay-like, round mass.
SIZE: max. 6 in.
Oregon Triton
Fusitriton oregonensisDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Hairy gray-brown projections along ridges in shell.
DESCRIPTION:
Large, brown shell with 6 whorls.
SIZE: max. 13 in.`
Gumboot Chiton
Cryptochiton stelleriDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Reddish brown coloration, covered by a leathery girdle. Size. (Gumboot Chiton is the largest chiton in the world.)
DESCRIPTION:
Oval-elongated. Yellow underside with large, broad foot.
SIZE: max. 7 in.
Northern Abalone
Haliotis kamtschatkanaDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Thin, oval shell with 3-6 open holes.
DESCRIPTION:
Shell is mottled greenish and reddish brown with areas of white or blue. Radial ridges span over a spiral sculpture. Only abalone in Pacific Northwest.
SIZE: max. 10 in.
Rock Scallop
Crassedoma giganteumDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Irregular exterior with ribs and many spiny projections.
DESCRIPTION:
Round, thick shell. One of the largest scallops in the world. An orange mantle with sensory tentacles and blue eyes fringes the shell. Permanently attached to substrate, does not detach and swim around.
SIZE: max. 5 ft. high and 3 ft. in diameter
Chimney Sponge
Rhabdocalyptus dawsoni/Staurocalyptus dowlingiDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Large, long, tube-shaped sponge.
DESCRIPTION:
Often looks fuzzy due to sedimentation. Found hanging on deep rock walls and reefs or standing on rocks.
SIZE: Individuals to 1/4 in. height/diameter. Colonies to 8 in. across.
Orange Social Ascidian
Metandrocarpa taylori/duraDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Bright orange or red coloration.
DESCRIPTION:
Form mat-like colonies in areas of current.
SIZE: max. 3 in. high and 2 in. in diameter
Shiny Orange Sea Squirt
Cnemidocarpa finmarkiensisDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Squarish openings of the siphons distinguish this species from the Sea Peach, which has larger, rounder openings and is a paler shade of orange or red.
DESCRIPTION:
Smooth opaque tunic with a squat, roundish body. Usually orange or red.
SIZE: tube: max. 24 in. crown: max. 2 in. across
Feather Duster Worm
Eudistylia polymorphaDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Maroon and green-banded plumes extend from tubes.
DESCRIPTION:
Larger, tube-dwelling worm. Often aggregates in clumps. Protected by long, soft, grayish, parchment-like tubes.
SIZE: 1.6 in. high in large clusters
Fringed Tube Worm
Dodecaceria fewkesiDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Tiny dark brown plumes extend from white calcareous tubes (often encrusted with pink coralline algae). Similar sp. D. concharum bore into calcareous substrata instead of building tubes.
DESCRIPTION:
Dark brown to green or black body. Can form clusters up to 1 m across.
SIZE: to 8cm (3 in.)
Blue-green Chromis
Chromis viridisDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Blue to pale green with no markings.
DESCRIPTION:
This species is identified primarily by the bright blue-green wash over its entire body. Unlike similar species, there is no black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. This species tends to form large schools over shallow branching coral thickets.
SIZE: up to 15 cm (6 in.)
Bicolor Angelfish
Centropyge bicolorDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Bright yellow head and forebody, deep blue behind with yellow tail.
DESCRIPTION:
Bright yellow head and forebody, deep blue behind with yellow tail. A blue saddle across nape extends to eyes.
SIZE: up to 10 cm (4 in.)
Two-spined Angelfish
Centropyge bispinosaDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Red orange under color with narrow blue bars, head and fins deep blue to purple.
DESCRIPTION:
Red orange under color with narrow blue bars, head and fins deep blue to purple. Two spines extend from lower gill cover.
SIZE: to 16 cm (6.5 in.)
Moorish Idol
Zanclus cornutusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Three wide black and two pale yellow bars. Long trailing dorsal fin filament.
DESCRIPTION:
Three wide black and two pale yellow bars. Long trailing dorsal fin filament. Yellow saddle marking on long snout.
SIZE: to 25 cm (10 in.)
Regal Angelfish
Pygoplites diacanthusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Yellow-orange color with 7-8 bluish-white dark edged bars. Bright yellow tail and the dark eyes outlined in bright blue.
DESCRIPTION:
Yellow-orange color with 7-8 bluish-white dark edged bars. Bright yellow tail and the dark eyes outlined in bright blue. Blue and orange bands on anal fin.
SIZE: to 25 cm (10 in.)
Bridled Monocle Bream
Scolopsis bilineatusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Grayish brown upper body with two to three, yellowish white bands. The lower body is white.
DESCRIPTION:
The bridled monocle bream has a grayish brown upper body with two to three, yellowish white bands. The lower body is white. A black-edged white band extends from below the eye to the back half of the dorsal fin. The first half of the dorsal fin is yellow. This bream also has a large white blotch underneath the back half of the dorsal fin.
SIZE: to 15 cm (6 in.)
Golden Damsel
Amblyglyphidodon aureusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Bright yellow to golden color, including fins. Blue rings around the eyes.
DESCRIPTION:
The golden damsel is indeed golden. No other noticeable markings are on the golden damsel except for faint blue rings around the eyes. This deep-bodied damselfish has long, pointed dorsal and anal fins.